Former Macon Bacon players were selected for the upcoming MLB draft. Who are they?

Four former Macon Bacon baseball players were selected in the 2024 Major League Baseball draft, the team announced Wednesday.

“Out of the 615 athletes drafted, the Bacon are honored to have the names of four former players read,” a news release from the team said.

Daniel Duarte, Bacon head coach, said the selections were a result of hard work from each player.

“I get to see firsthand how much hard work and dedication those guys put in and that just made it even more exciting to hear their names called on draft day,” Duarte said. “I am excited to see where their baseball careers take them.”

Brandon Raphael, president of the Bacon, emphasized how summer collegiate baseball prepares athletes for MLB.

“The epitome of college summer ball is to see our players develop over the course of the summer, both on and off the field,” Raphael said. “We are incredibly grateful for the part we could play in helping them reach this major milestone. Their time with the Bacon will always be remembered.”

Which Bacon players were selected in draft?

JR Freethy - Just days before the draft, Freethy committed to transfer from the University of Nevada to the University of Georgia.

Now, he has “a big decision ahead of him,” the team said in a news release.

The Blue Jays drafted Freethy 427th overall in the 14th round.

He played for the Bacon in 2023. He is a rising senior and “dominant utility player” for the University of Nevada, according to the release.

Freethy was one of two players to appear in all 51 games for the Wolf Pack in 2024.

During his time with the Bacon, he was a member of the All-Coastal Plain League First Team.

Kasen Wells - Before Kasen Wells played as the 2024 Bacon outfielder, he studied at Texas A&M University and appeared in 33 games with 14 starts as a freshman with the Aggies.

“The speedy outfielder” then played for Weatherford College where he slugged .383 in 59 games played, according to the press release.

Wells planned to transfer to Dallas Baptist University before he was selected in the draft.

The San Diego Padres selected Wells as the 480th pick in the 16th round.

Patrick Clohisy - Macon Bacon might not be the only Middle Georgia team Clohisy plays for soon.

The Atlanta Braves selected the “powerful” outfielder who played for the Bacon in 2023.

Clohisy was selected 341st in the 11th round.

During his run with the Saint Louis University Billikens, Clohisy hit .383 with 42 starts. He slugged .667 and ended the 2024 season with 62 hits, seven home runs and 44 runs batted in.

Nolan Clifford - Clifford was a shortstop from Creighton University and played for the Bacon in 2023.

During Clifford’s senior season with the Jays, he started 41 games with 38 runs scored, eight doubles, five home runs and 37 RBI.

In the infield, Clifford posted a .975 fielding percentage with 48 putouts and 106 assists to just four errors, the media release said.

The Colorado Rockies selected him 498th in the 17th round.

“This is something you always wished for, but it was amazing to actually happen,” Clifford told Creighton Athletics.